Hieroglyphics Trail

Many times on my hikes in Arizona, I have been amazed at how close we are able to get to archaeological sites. You may recall the old dwelling and pottery shards on the Hackberry Springs Loop, the old fireplace-looking brick-thing on the Broadway Cave trail, and now we have the Hieroglyphics Trail, which allows you and everyone else to come up close and personal with rock art that possibly dates back 2,000 years. While I do enjoy the opportunity to get so close to these petroglyphs, and I, myself, have taken several groups of eager cub scout and girl scout groups out to decipher them, I fear that eventually the petroglyphs will be covered in graffiti and manipulated to the point of destruction. I tell everyone I bring here, and now everyone reading this post, to please remember that these petroglyphs are on public land, and all archaeological sites found on any public land in Arizona are protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and failure to obey these laws will lead to fines, jail time, and felony charges. Although it does seem like no one is paying attention or policing people up there on the rocks, we can all make a difference by educating others about the need to protect these sites. Please help me do so!

To get to the Hieroglyphics Trailhead from metro Phoenix, go east on US 60 to Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon, and turn left (north) onto Kings Ranch Road. Turn right (east) on Baseline and then left (north) on Mohican. Once you get to Mohican, you will begin to see some brown hiker's signage that you can also follow to the trailhead. Then, turn left (west) on Valley View and follow it as it bends and turns into White Tail Road. Turn right (east) onto Cloudview Road and follow it to the trailhead. Surprise, surprise . . . there is also a port-a-potty at this trailhead!

To get to the petroglyphs up in the canyon above the trailhead, you will start your hike on the Lost Goldmine Trail. As a side note, the Lost Goldmine Trail now links the Hieroglyphic Trailhead with the Peralta Trailhead to the east. I have also seen the Lost Goldmine Trail sign on the far western flanks of the Superstitions, at the Broadway Trailhead, but I have conflicting information about whether this section has been completed yet so I will try it out soon to find out. But for the Hieroglyphics Trail, you will only be on the Lost Goldmine Trail for a short time, about the first quarter mile, before coming to the stone marker for the Hieroglyphics Trail where you will bear to the left. It should be noted that at this time, the stone marker only has a picture of a petroglyph on it, and not the written words "Hieroglyphics Trail." I find this sort of amusing, as you must begin your decoding early on in this hike. The trail is very easy to follow from this point on. You will go through a gate that says "Superstition Wilderness Tonto National Forest;" in my humble opinion, you are about one-third of the way up to the petroglyphs at this point. About two-thirds of the way up, you will begin to get some shade trees along the trail and large boulders. When the boulders clear away, you are struck with large pools of water. I have been on this trail at various times of the year, but spring is my favorite because you will get running waterfalls cascading down these pools. Even without the petroglyphs, this trail is amazing for its water and views. Bring sun some snacks and some sunscreen as there are plenty of large, smooth rocks to lay out on for an enjoyable afternoon.

Length: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Time it took us: 2.5 hours with a half-hour stop up top
Dogs okay: Yes
Fees: none